Signal system.



J. H. MATTIOE.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 26, 1911.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

JOHN H. MATTICE,

PANT @lh lt litlht OF CLYDE, KANSAS.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

31.,tWtL505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Marrron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clyde, in the county of Cloud and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for the selective transmission of electric impulses, that is to say, a system whereby any one apparatus of a series of apparatuses may be operated at will without affecting the other apparatus, and particularly to a system including a plurality of electrically operated devices so arranged on a common electric circuit as to be operated through the medium of electro-magnets whose operation is controlled at a central station.

The primary object of my invention is the provision, in connection with a plurality of electrically operated apparatuses contained in a single circuit, of a very simple yet effective electrically operated mechanism, whereby an operator at a central station may close the circuit to throw any selected apparatus into operation while the other apparatuses remain inoperative.

One object is the provision of an automatic controlling switch, so arranged that current either below or above a certain predetermined strength shall notoperate it, but that it can only be operated by said certain predetermined strength of current.

it further object is to provide in connection with the system above described, means whereby a normal strength of the current may be secured at all times, and in connection therewith means whereby currents of varying predetermined strength may be sent through the main line.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of my system as applied to actuating the signal bells of a series of telephones. Fig. 2 is an. elevation of a controlling switch for one of the telephones.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a battery or other generator of electric current 1 is connected by means of a wire 2 with a current strength controller having as illustrated the form of a variable resistance 3 which will be described in detail herein after. it conductor 4- connects the variable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1911.

Patented An 19,1915.

Serial No. 629,679.

resistance or current strength controller with a rheostat 5 of any usual or ordinary form. From the rheostat a line conductor 6 extends to a conductor 10, these conductors connecting the rheostat with a series of controlling switches, one for each telephone or other like apparatus designed to be operated by my mechanism. These switches will be described in detail hereinafter, it being sufficient to say that wires S connect the switches with the telephones 9 or other ap paratus controlled by the switches. These switches are each connected by means of a line wire 10 with the generator, this wire 10 forming a return conductor. The conductor 10 is also connected with a ground as at 11 and each telephone 9 or corresponding apparatus is also connected with a ground as at 12.

The means whereby the strength of the current is controlled for the separate switches is of any suitable character and as shown consists of a resistance coil and a plurality of keys 13 coacting therewith, each key being connected by means of the conductor 2 with the battery 1. These keys are spaced along the resistance coil and are in dependently depressible into electrical engagement with the resistance coil. The coil 1% is connected with the wire t leading to the rheostat It will be seen that by electrically engaging the key 13 most remote from the conductor 4 (said key being lettered a) with the coil 14 a current of a certain de gree of strength will be passed from the generator 1 through the system. By engaging the next adjacent key Z), the strength of the current is increased, and by depressing the key a a further increase of current is secured. It will be seen that this increase of current due to the engaging of keys (1,, b, (r, (i, 6, etc., with the resistance coil is absolutely regular, and that the strength of current may be absolutely controlled or regulated by engaging any particular key with the re sistance coil 14. While I have shown a. resistance coil with a plurality of depressible keys, I wish it distinctly understood that other means for securing a predetermined variation in the strength of current might be used.

Inasmuch as the strength of current may vary from day to day in the line, it is necessary to provide means for securing a normal current of a predetermined strength,

this normal current to be weakened by cut ting in the various lengths of the resistance coil by means of the variable resistance mechanism 3. To this end I have provided the rheostat 5. By shifting the controlling handle of this rheostat, the current may always he brought up or cut down to a standard or normal strength.

One of the controlling switches is shown in. Fig. 2 and it will be understood that each of the controlling switches 7 is precisely like the switch shown in Fig. 2. Each controlling switch consists of a pair of electro-magnets 15 which are connected with the wires '10 and 8 and electrically connected to each other by means of the connection 16. These magnets are mounted upon a frame, bracket or other suitable support designated 17, and shown as being rectangular in form.

Armature levers 18, 18 are fulcrumed upon the frame 17. These levers are oppositely disposed to each other and have their inner end portions disposed over the upper ends of the cores of the magnets 15. To the outer end of the armature lever 18 is connected a spring 19, while to the outer end of the opposite armature lever 18 is connected the spring 19. These springs 19, 19 are connected at their lower ends with the adjusting screws 20 which extend through the frame 17. The levers 18 and 18 are of the same design but the springs 19 and 19 differ from each other in that the spring 19 is somewhat weaker than the spring 19.

Mounted upon the armature levers are the auxiliary springs 30. These springs are angular in form and attached at their upper ends to the under sides of the armature levers and extend down inside the frame 17 so that their lower or free ends are disposed opposite to the screws 20. The auxiliary springs 30 act in connection with the springs 19 and 19 to hold the armature levers away from electrical engagement with the cores of the magnets, and by turning the screws 20' in or out, the degree of resistance offered by the springs 30 to any movement of the armature levers may be varied.

As shown, my mechanism is applied to controlling the call bells of a series of tele phones, and to this end each controlling switch is provided with a local circuit, each circuit including a generator 21 shown as a battery which is electrically connected by means of a conductor 22 with a contact pin 23. The other pole of the generator 21 is electrically connected by means of the conductor 2 1 with a binding post 25. A bell or other electrically operated signal 26 is connected to the conductor 24.

Mounted upon one end of the frame 17 is a contact spring 27 forming a circuit closer which is electrically connected with the binding post 25 and has its intermediate portion lying over the contact pin 23 but normally out of contact therewith. The

contact spring 27 extends beyond the end of the frame 17 and is provided at its free end over the lever 18 with an angular extremity 28 which engages with a pivoted weight or like device 28 whereby the member 27 is normally held in a raised position. Adjustable stops 29, 29 are disposed upon the frame 17 and as shown have the form of screws which pass through the frame and engage, the stop 29 with the long end of the lever 18 and the stop 29 with the inner end of the lever 18. These stops limit the upward swinging movement of the inner ends of the levers 18, 18.

The inner end of the lever 18 is formed with an upstanding extremity 31 which normally operates against the intermediate portion of the spring 27 and serves to hold said spring elevated and out of contact with the contact pin 23. The lever 18 is likewise provided with an upstanding extremity 31 which is adapted to engage with the outer or free end of the spring 27 but which is normally out of engagement therewith as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that when current passes through the magnets 15, the magnets will be energized. If the current is of a certain predetermined strength, one of the magnets 15 will be able to overcome the tension of the spring 19 and draw down the armature lever 18, but this current is of too little strength to draw down the lever 18 against the tension of the stronger spring 19. When the lever 18 is drawn downward it will release the contact spring 27 and the resilience of the spring will cause it to move downward and into contact with the contact pin 23, thus closing the circuit through the signal 26. lVe will suppose, however, that a stronger current is used. In this case, the lever 18 will be operated or withdrawn from its engagement with the spring 27, but the lever 18 will also be operated and the outer end of the lever 18 will rise simultaneously with the descent of the inner end of lever 18 and the contact spring 27 will be supported by means ofthe upturned end 31 of the lever 18 so that though the lever 18 is shifted as before described, the lever 18 still will hold the contact spring 27 out of engagement with the contact pin 28. This lever 18 therefore forms in effect a detaining device or detent which prevents the contact spring from moving downward when sufficient current passes through the switch to energize the magnets sutliciently to overcome the tension of the spring 19. There may be a very short interval between the disengagement of spring 23 by the lever 18 and the reengagement of the spring 27 by means of the lever 18 but this Wlll have practically no effect as the signal bell 26 Wlll merely sound once, if at all. There are as many of these controlling switches shown in Fig. 2 as there are apparatuses designed to be controlled by the switches. The springs 19, 19 of the several automatic switches connected to the several phones A, B and C have a certain predetermined order of tension. Thus the spring 19 of the telephone or other electrical instrument A re sponds to the energizing of the magnet caused by the weakest current passing through the line, while the spring 19 of the same switch will only respond to a current having a strength one step greater. The weak spring 19 of the switch B has the same tension as the spring 19 of the instrument A, while the strong spring 19 of instrument B has the same tension as the weak spring 19 of instrument C, and so on for as many instruments as may be inserted. Thus the strong spring of one instrument has the same tension as the weak spring of the instrument next in succession, and the weak springs 19 of the whole series of switches successively increase in strength in a regular predetermined order corresponding to the order of the keys a, b, 0, (Z on the variable current resistance 3. Thus when the key a is depressed, a current of a predetermined low strength is sent through the line which will energize the magnets 15 of the several switches 1 1,13, C,D,etc.,but only the relatively weak spring 19 of the switch belonging to the instrument A will be flexed. When the key 7) is depressed, the armature lever 18 which forms a detent as before stated will be actuated, and the lever 18 of the next succeeding switch will also be actuated and so on, the actuation of any one of the switches depending upon which key of the series of keys 13 is depressed. It will be seen that by this mechanism each control ling switch will respond to one degree of current strength, and only one, and that hence it is possible to actuate one of the bell signals or any other electrically actuated mechanism connected to the switch without actuating the others. Further it is to be noted that each bell signal 26 is entirely out out until a current of such strength has passed over the circuit that it will flex the corresponding spring 19 but not the relatively strong corresponding spring 19. It will be seen that l have thus provided a selective circuit controlling system whereby any one of a number of local circuits may be thrown into electrical engagement with a main circuit, or whereby any one of a number of normally open circuits may be closed.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical control system including in its organization a source of energy, means in circuit with. the source of energy for varying the strength of the current flowing through the circuit, a plurality of electrical devices, a plurality of circuit closers,

each controlling one of said devices, an electro-magnet disposed in said circuit for each circuit closer, means actuated by the energizing of the electro-magnet for releasing the circuit closer to permit it to move to a closed position, tensioning means resisting the movement of the releasing means, the tensioning means for any one electrical device being diiferent in tension from the tensioning means of any other of said devices, a detent adapted to prevent the movement of the circuit closer to its closed position, a tensioning means yieldingly holding said detent from actuation, and an eleetro-magnet in said circuit adapted to shift said detent to operative position against the force of the tensioning means, the tensioning means for the detent of one device being equal in strength to the tensioning means for the re leasing means of the next succeeding device.

2. An electrical control system including in its organization a source of energy, an electrical device in circuit with the source of energy, a circuit closer normally breaking said circuit but movable into position to close the circuit, a releasing lever, a spring normally holding the releasing lever in engagement with the circuit closer to hold the circuit closer in its open position, a detent lever engageable with the circuit closer but normally out of engagement ,therewith, a spring holding said lever out of engagement and having a greater strength than the first named spring, and electro-magnets disposed in the circuit and adapted to operate said releasing lever and the detent.

3. A switch of the character described compmising a supporting frame, electro-magnets supported on the frame, a contact pin on the frame, a circuit closing member adapted to make contact with the contact pin and urged thereto, an armature lever coacting with one of said electro-magnets constituting a releasing means and having an angular termination, an adjustable spring holcing the termination of the armature lever against the contact member to prevent contact between it and the pin but movable away from the contact member to release the latter and permit said contact to be made upon an energizing of the magnet, an armature lever constituting a de tent having an angular terminal and normally held out of engagement with the contact member but movable upon an energizing of the magnet to sition to prevent the contact member from engaging with the pin, and a spring resisting the movement of the last names armature lever, said spring being of greater strength than the spring resisting the movement of the first named armature lever.

1-. An electrical control system, including a normally open circuit, means for closing said circuit to transmit currents of Varying strengths, a plurality of electrically operated circuit closers, an auxiliary circuit for each circuit closer, each of said circuit closers including a pair of magnets connected together in series and connected in the main circuit, an armature for each of said magnets, springs for normally holding said armatures in unattracted position, one of said springs being of greater strength than the other, a two-part switch, means constantly tending to close said switch, means operable by the movement of the armature having the weaker spring for permitting the closing of the switch, and means operable by the movement of the other armature for preventing the closing of the switch.

5. An electrical control system, including a normally open circuit, a plurality of electrically operated circuit closers, an auxiliary circuit for each of said circuit closers, each of said circuit closers including electro-magnets in said circuit, armatures for said electro-magnets, a switch held in open position by one of said armatures when its electromagnet is inoperative, said switch being held in open position by the other of said armatures, when its magnet is operative, spring controlled means for governing the movement of said armatures, and means included in the main circuit for passing currents of predetermined strength through the circuit closers to ehergize the magnets toattract one or both of the armatures.

6. An electrical control system including a main circuit, electromagnets in the main circuit, armatures for the magnets, a normally open auxiliary circuit, and a switch member movable to close the auxiliary circuit, said switch member being so arranged with respect to the armatures that the armature of one magnet when deenergized holds the switch member in inoperative position:

and that the armature of the other magnet when said other magnet is energized holds the switch member in inoperative position.

7. An electrical control system including a main circuit, electromagnets in the main circuit, armatures for said magnets, a normally open auxiliary circuit, and a switch member movable to close the auxiliary circuit, the energization of one of the magnets acting through its armature to rel-ease the switch, while the energization of the other magnet acts through its armature to hold the switch in open position.

8. An electrical control system including a frame having spaced sides, electromagnets carried by the frame, a circuit for said electromagnets, armatures for said magnets pivotally mounted intermediate their length, one upon each side member of the frame, set

screws threaded through the side members i of the frame, leaf springs secured by one end to the armatures and bearing by their free ends against the set screws to hold the armatures in raised position, helical springs securedby one end to the set screws and by their other ends to the armatures in such a manner as to assist the first mentioned springs, said armatures each having an upturned terminal, an auxiliary circuit normally open, and a switch member movable to close the auxiliary circuit and normally Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

